we are talk about holy places of the three main religions. >> reporter: it's so politically charged. >> it is so politically charged. >> reporter: discovered by accident in the 19th century when an archaeologist was walking his dog. this massive network of caves and tunnels is known as solomon's quarries. >> he is the founding father of the free masons. >> reporter: the reminders of solomon, his temple and his destruction seem to seep from these walls. >> the name of this is the tears of the king. >> reporter: why is he crying? >> well, this was the end of the first temple period. >> reporter: tears for the destruction of the temple. it was under zedekiah's rule that jerusalem fell to the bab loan yans and the ark of the covenant went missing from history and the pages of the bible. >> the 10th century is the last time anybody really sees it according to biblical tradition. there are other stories that maybe somebody spirited the ark out of the city just ahead of the destruction. >> reporter: many believe these underground tunnels were used to secretly transport the ark out of jerusa